The mission of the Music Education program is to prepare outstanding music educators for lifelong careers inspiring today’s youth. Our undergraduate program provides a core of knowledge and skills, enhanced by applied learning experiences that ready our graduates for contemporary and current educational practices. Our faculty members are cutting-edge teacher/scholars with national certifications in Orff Schulwerk and Kodaly. They are active scholars and researchers, particularly in the areas of instrumental music, jazz education, choral music, Kodaly, Orff Schulwerk, Laban Movement Analysis, and vocal pedagogy. Graduates move on to be successful general, choral and instrumental music educators in Missouri and in the states of Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska, and often continue their education in successful graduate programs all over the United States.

As of 2019, the BME degree sequence was overhauled to best meet the needs of the 21st century music educator, as well as shorten the time required to complete the degree. Most students are able to complete the BME in nine (9) total semesters.

All music major degree programs have a concert/recital attendance applied learning activity requirement. To complete the degree, the student must attend 12 approved performances each semester for a total of 6 semesters. This is in addition to all coursework for any music major degree. Attendance requirements and an approved listing of concerts/recitals are provided at the beginning of each regular semester.

CONCENTRATIONS

If instrumental music is your passion, you can tailor your music education degree with the concentration that matches your interest.


BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN EDUCATION DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Candidates for the Bachelor of Music in Education degree must participate in one major ensemble each semester with the exception of the student teaching semester. Candidates for the Bachelor of Music in Education degree must complete 4 credits in 300-level “Applied Music-Major Instrument” requirements for graduation.

Requires a core of 49 credits in music courses plus additional credits in the area of concentration.

If vocal music is your passion, you can tailor your music education degree with the concentration that matches your interest.


BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN EDUCATION VOCAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Candidates for the BME-Vocal degree must complete 45 hours in the major core, 17 hours in the concentration, and 33 hours in the professional education sequence. The BME additionally requires passing the Missouri Content Area Assessment in music (MOCA) prior to student teaching.

Student looking in a microscope
General Studies 1
42-47
Major Requirements
MUS 100Concert/Recital Attendance0
MUS 103Fundamentals of Music3
MUS 106Basic Keyboard Skills I2
MUS 108Basic Keyboard Skills II2
MUS 115Musicianship I3
MUS 116Musicianship I Lab1
MUS 215Musicianship II3
MUS 216Musicianship II Lab1
MUS 320Elementary Music Methods and Materials3
MUS 348Music of World Cultures1
MUS 363History of Western Music II: Romanticism to the 21st Century3
MUS 366Musicianship III3
MUS 367Musicianship III Lab1
MUS 368Musicianship IV2
MUS 490Senior Recital1
or MUS 491 Senior Recital
MUS 1XX (Applied Lessons)3
MUS 2XX (Applied Lessons)1
MUS 3XX (Applied Lessons - 2 semesters)2
MUS 4XX (Applied Lessons)1
MUS XXX (Large Ensembles) 25
MUS XXX (Chamber Ensembles) 22
Concentration
Select one of the following concentrations:17-19
Instrumental
Vocal
Education Professional Sequence36
EDU 150Psychological Development for Children & Adolescents for Educators3
EDU 202Introduction to Education3
EDU 203Participation in Teaching I1
EDU 225Educational Psychology3
EDU 303Experience in Teaching II2
EDU 304Applied Methods and Management3
EDU 311Secondary Reading Techniques3
EDU 315Psychology and Education of the Exceptional Child3
EDU 404Seminar in Secondary Education and Human Relations3
EDU 409Secondary Student Teaching III9
1

Music majors must taken one of the following: HUM 203 Humanities: Ancient and Medieval, HUM 204 Humanities: Middle Ages to the French Revolution, HUM 205 Humanities: American Revolution to the Present, ENG 210 Approaches to Literature, ART 100 Introduction to Art, or THR 113 Introduction to Theatre for NASM accreditation.

2

One semester of orchestra and one semester of a jazz ensemble are required.

Concentrations:
Instrumental
Vocal

Instrumental Concentration

Concentration Requirements
MUS 109Functional Voice Class2
MUS 206Keyboard Proficiency for Instrumentalists2
MUS 307Percussion Methods and Materials2
MUS 307Percussion Methods and Materials2
MUS 325Marching Band Techniques1
MUS 337Brass Methods & Materials2
MUS 353Woodwind Methods and Materials2
MUS 442Instrumental Conducting3
MUS 468Middle and High School Instrumental Methods3

Vocal Concentration

Concentration Requirements
MUS 111Functional Instrumental Techniques2
MUS 201Diction for Singers3
MUS 208Keyboard Proficiency for Vocalists2
MUS 328Song and Choral Literature2
MUS 334Pedagogical Practices: Voice1-2
MUS 441Choral Conducting3
MUS 467Middle and High School Choral Methods3

Additional Teaching Certification

The department strongly recommends additional teaching certification for all BME music majors.

Candidates for the Bachelor of Music in Education degree with a Instrumental Concentration may achieve state vocal certification with the following courses:

MUS 201Diction for Singers3
MUS 301Advanced Diction for Singers2
MUS 328Song and Choral Literature2
MUS 441Choral Conducting3
MUS 467Middle and High School Choral Methods3

Candidates for the Bachelor of Music in Education degree with a Vocal Concentration may achieve state instrumental certification with the following courses:

MUS 307Percussion Methods and Materials2
MUS 308String Methods and Materials2
MUS 337Brass Methods & Materials2
MUS 353Woodwind Methods and Materials2
MUS 442Instrumental Conducting3
MUS 468Middle and High School Instrumental Methods3

 Program Graduation Requirements

  1. Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.50 and a major GPA of 3.0.
  2. Earn a grade of C or higher in all major coursework.

University Graduation Requirements 

  1. Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
  2. Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses.  Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
  3. Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
  4. Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments. 
  5. Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
  6. Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam. 

Are you ready to declare this major? Download, sign and submit the form(s) to the Music Department.